Friday, September 1, 2006

5 persons will appear in bail court this morning:

1) A 48-year old male was arrested last night just after 11 pm and charged with one count of assault. It is alleged that the accused assaulted his common law wife by punching her in the face. The incident occurred in a downtown residence. The victim did not require medical attention for her injuries at the time of the incident.

2) A 46-year old male was arrested and charged yesterday morning with one count of assault causing bodily harm. It is alleged that the accused and his common law wife were involved in a domestic dispute on the 26th of August. It is alleged that the accused pushed the victim down the stairs of the residence and also pulled her hair and punched the victim in the face. The victim received non-life threatening injuries.

3) Yesterday morning officers on routine patrol stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation and then had the driver run away on foot from them. Officers were involved in a short foot pursuit with the driver who was apprehended. The incident occurred in the downtown area. It is alleged that when dealing with the officers for the traffic violation the accused provided a name of someone else. As a result 47-year old John Perrault of no fixed address was arrested and charged with one count of obstruct police.

4) A 12-year old youth was arrested last evening and charged with two counts of assault and one count of breach of probation. It is alleged that the youth assaulted two adult females that are known to the youth by grabbing both victims by their arms and refusing to let go. One of the victims was also scratched in the incident. The youth was on probation at the time of the offence not to molest, harass or annoy one of the victims.

5) 25-year old Michael Muto of 123 Roosevelt was arrested yesterday afternoon and charged with one count of criminal harassment and four counts of breach of probation. It is alleged that in the month of August the accused repeatedly called a female who is known to the accused, as well as repeatedly driving by her residence. The accused was on probation with conditions to keep the peace and be good as well as to stay away from the victim’s address and not to communicate with her. The accused and the victim are known to each other but have not been involved in any intimate relationship.

One Count of Mischief & Assult

44-year old Paul Archambeault of 4-823 Wellington Street East was arrested yesterday afternoon and charged with one count of assault and one count of mischief under $5,000. It is alleged that the accused assaulted a male known to him by punching the victim in the head and torso area several times. It is also alleged that the accused bent the arms of the victim’s glasses. The accused will appear in court on October 2nd.

Break & Enter

A home on Bush Street was broken into sometime between August 17th and August 31st. It is unknown at this time if anything was taken

Reports of Mischief

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is investigating a number of reports of mischief that occurred overnight on August 30th and 31st:

1) A car on Robin Street had oil poured on both on the inside and the outside of the vehicle.

2) A vehicle on Elmwood Avenue had it’s antennae and wipers bent.

3) A car on Ohio Street had both door locks damaged.

4) A car on Windsor Street had the door locks damaged and thieves tried to steal the car’s stereo but did not succeed.

Long Weekend Safety Tips

Each Long Weekend we all hear of tragedies that could have been avoided. Homes are broken into while their owners are away, motorists are killed or injured in motor vehicle collisions or vacations are ruined when vehicles are entered and the owner’s belongings are taken. Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Deputy Chief of Police Bob Kates states:

“ That many of these tragedies could be avoided with some careful planning. By following some simple principles people may avoid many of the problems the Police Service has responded to in the past.”

With this in mind the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service issues these safety tips to make your Holiday Long Weekend more enjoyable and safe for you and your family.

GOING AWAY

• Make your home appears occupied when you go out.
• Leave lights on and the radio playing.
• Keep your garage door closed and locked.
• Use timing devices to turn inside lights on and off.
• If you will be gone several days, arrange to have the mail and papers stopped or picked up.
• Inform your trusted neighbours you will be away and ask them to keep an eye on you residence.
• Half of all home burglaries occur during the day when alert neighbors could spot and report the thieves.

AGGRESSIVE DRIVING

Aggressive driving has been on the increase in recent years. Stories of road rage have been on the news on a regular basis. Our Police Service, along with others in the Province have begun and continue to be involved in aggressive driving enforcement efforts. The public can help themselves this Labor Day Weekend by learning how to avoid aggressive drivers and how not to be an aggressive driver.

Characteristics of Aggressive Drivers:

 Tailgating
 Passing on the shoulder of the road
 Making rude gestures or shouting
 Changing lanes without signaling
 Violating traffic signals
 Weaving in and out of traffic
 Speeding

How to Avoid Aggressive Drivers:

 Don’t challenge the aggressive driver
 Don’t respond with a counterattack or obscene gestures
 Safely move out of their way
 Avoid eye contact
 Get help from police, if necessary
 Do not dwell on the incident.

If you feel the urge to drive aggressive, try these tips:

 Leave earlier to avoid the need for speeding, remember traffic is heavier in the summer months.
 Use your turn signals and give others advance warning of your lane changes.
 Try to relax and stay calm, driving can be stressful enough.
 Listen to relaxing music.
 Slow down and obey the speed limit.
 Be courteous to other drivers.

WHILE ON THE ROAD

• Keep your car in good condition with the gas tank at least half full.
• Park in well-lighted areas and lock your doors, no matter how long you’ll be gone.
• Put valuables out of sight or in the trunk.
• Check front and rear seats, and floorboards before entering your car.
• Drive with all doors locked and windows rolled up.
• Never pick up hitchhikers.
• Avoid underground and enclosed parking garages if possible.
• When parking or returning to your vehicle, carry your keys and be aware of your surroundings.
• Consider investing in a cellular telephone and try not to use it while driving. If you feel it necessary to call someone pull over to a safe area and complete the call.

By following some of these steps you can help make your last long weekend of summer a safe and crime free one.